Publication

Application

Priority

US 9914013 W 19990621

US 11114698 A 19980706

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO0001367A1] A method and apparatus for performing surgery inside the human retina (26) using fluidic internal limited membrane separation (FILMS) to remove the internal limiting retinal layer (22) from the neural retinal layer (26) at the macula, is claimed. The method comprises inserting a hollow microcannula (14) between the retinal internal limiting membrane (ILM) (22) and the neural retinal layer at or near the macula and injecting a sterile fluid (20), such as sodium hyaluronate, through the microcannula (14) and thereby raising the macular ILM retinal layer (22) away from the neural retina (26) such that it can then be removed by conventional means, while simultaneously smoothing the neural retina (26) by localized pressure. The microcannula (14) maintains a distal end (12) shaped to conform tangentially to the retinal surface (26). The sharply beveled distal tip (14) is adapted for fluid discharge, and easy insertion under the ILM retinal layer (22).